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Christmas Devotions

PROPHESY FULLFILLED

Flight to Egypt

Read Matthew 2:1-15

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” Matthew 2:13 NKJV

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Centuries before this, God instructed the family of Jacob (Israel) to settle in Egypt because of a great famine in the land. Now the family of Messiah, descendants of Jacob are forced to flee to Egypt once again. This time just until the death of Herod, but still a significant event in the light of prophesy.

What was to both generations a time of sorrow and testing was actually the moving of the providence of God in bringing about the salvation that is so freely offered to us today. Jesus, the Son of God, was also a descendant of Jacob through his mother Mary, and the fulfillment of a promise made to Jacob. God's perfect plan was being worked out in spite of the acts of wicked sinful men.

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Lord, help us to trust you and your plan for our lives, in spite of the circumstances we face. You are the God of history and You have our future in Your hands. Help us to never forget that as we look with dismay at threatening world events shaping up around us.

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When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew 2:14-15 NKJV

CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONS

RACHAEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN

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Read Matthew 2:1-23; Genesis 35:9-19; Jeremiah 31:15

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When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under– Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: Matthew 2:16–17 NIV

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More than 1400 years before Christ was born, the patriarch Jacob buried his beloved wife, Rachel. We read, "So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel's tomb." (Genesis 35:19–20) The prophet Jeremiah predicted a future day when children would be slaughtered near Rachel's grave. (Jeremiah 31:15) This was fulfilled when Herod killed all of the male babies under two, trying to destroy the Jewish Messiah.

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We live in a day where it could be said "A voice was heard in America of weeping and mourning for children, because they are no more." The travesty of millions of babies aborted over the past thirty plus years must grieve your heart, Lord. Don't let us become apathetic to the cries of unborn babies, or the grief caused to women in our day.

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"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Matthew 2:18 NIV

CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONS

WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM

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THE WISE MEN AND HEROD

Read Matthew 2:1–12 & Micah 5:2

When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: Matthew 2:4–5 NIV

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Long before Jesus was born, the prophets had predicted His coming. The priests and rabbis knew that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem – a prophesy they explained to Herod and the Kings from the East. We know that even the common people were taught this prophesy, since later–when Jesus started His ministry–the people said, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" (John 7:41b-42)

They must not have realized that He was born in Bethlehem during the census. The Jews of Jesus time really had no excuse for not recognizing their Messiah. Had they truly been looking for Him, they would have known who He was–just as the Wise Men and even Herod did.

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Lord, I praise You for the reliability of Your Word. Help me to be willing to share the message of Your coming with my children, their friends and all who might be seeking for truth. As the Christmas cards say, "Wise men still seek Him."

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"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2 NIV

Walking in a Winter Funderland!

Darryl
Dec 19, 2009
2 comments

We walked in our snow shoes for an hour and ten minutes this morning.

Here's what we saw from our bedroom window when we arose:

Bedroom View of Snow

Last Christmas we gave each other snow shoes as a gift. We used them several times.

Here's a scene along Wilson Avenue:

Snow Scene along Wilson Avenue

Here is a photo my wife took of me, next to a flag waving in the wind:

Proud to Be an American in Snow

We also walked the length of the Hanover Trolley Rail Trail. Here's a scene along the trail:

Hanover Trolley Rail Trail in Snow

Here's what our new house looks like in the snow:

Our house in snow

Here's our Garden Flag in the snow:

Our December Garden Flag

A blessed Christmas and happy New Year to all!

Christmas Devotions

REVEALER OF HEARTS

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SIMEON

Read Luke 2:21-40

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined… to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2:34–35 NIV

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Holding the newborn baby in his arms, Simeon spoke words from God: Mary's life would be filled with both joy and sorrow. Her baby would be at the center of controversy. Her Son would be the revealer of hearts – even her own. She would have to learn to step back, be silent, and continue to ponder things in her heart. Shepherds could praise Him, Pharisees would curse Him and children would adore Him – but Mary could only quietly pray for Him. He was her son, but he was also her Savior. God's plan would proceed as she stood by and watched.

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Lord, I know You have a plan for each of our children. Mary had some very human sons and daughters in addition to her perfect Son, Jesus. Would they ever accept Him as Messiah? No doubt, Mary prayed that her other children would accept Him as their personal Savior. It wasn't until after the resurrection that they truly believed – but in God's perfect time – Mary's prayers were answered.

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And Joseph and His (Jesus’) mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Luke 2:33 NKJV

Fan into the Flame!

Darryl
Dec 19, 2009
3 comments

I have been writing a series of posts about Bible verses I wrote on our cement floor, before our new home's floors were covered with carpet or vinyl.

Here's today's verse, found on the furnace room floor:

Furnace Room Verse

A man died and went to heaven. Jesus offered to show him around. They entered a large warehouse and saw shelves full of gifts with peoples' names on them. The man saw several wrapped gifts for him, too. So he asked our Lord about it.

"I saw some gifts with my name on it. Why didn't you ever give me those gifts on earth?"

Jesus replied, "You never asked for those."

God has many wonderful gifts to give us, not the least of which is the gift of faith. But we need to do something to receive it, to fan it into flame.

It's right there inside us, all along, we just need to fan it into flame.

What are you waiting for?

CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONS

TIDINGS OF JOY

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THE SHEPHERDS

Read Luke 2:8–20

"Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10–11 NKJV

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Exhausted but happy, Joseph wraps his newborn babe in swaddling clothes and lays him at Mary's side. They are alone, in the city of their birth, but not their home. Only the sound of animals disturbs their quiet conversation. What will life be like with this child of God? Soon they will be able to consummate their marriage and build a family together.
Meanwhile, out in the nearby fields, a lowly group of shepherds are in for a big surprise. Suddenly an angel appears in the night sky surrounded by the glory of the Lord. He announces, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "(Luke 2:11 NKJV) Lonely quiet places - this stable - those fields - where all of history would be changed. Even today we date our lives from this event.

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Lord, help me to value the lonely, quiet moments of my life. They are so few and yet so valuable. Speak to my heart this morning with words of peace. Like Mary, I truly desire to understand Your ways and ponder them in my heart.

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"All those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:18-19 NKJV

Standing on the Promises of God~~Part 3

Darryl
Dec 16, 2009
1 comment

Well, in the past two days, I've taken you inside the front door of our new home, and into the living room, so today, we enter the dining room.

Here's the verse I wrote on the cement floor of that room before the vinyl flooring went down over it:

Dining Room Verse

We spend so much of our lives eating and drinking and preparing to do so and cleaning up afterward that this verse lifts up that we should be glorifying God at these times, at all times!

Whatever we do, let us glorify God in it.

Jesus often broke bread with his disciples, with sinners and tax collectors, people on the fringes of society and the high and mighty, too.

Set an extra plate at your table for Jesus, who is present at every meal, in his risen power.

Welcome him into your home, your living room, your dining room, and let His peace fill you up.

We walk around our new home and in every room, we are "standing on the promises of God."

Sola gloria dei!

Standing on the Promises~~Part 2

Darryl
Dec 15, 2009
3 comments

I began a series yesterday on "Standing on the Promises of God."

We wrote verses on the concrete floor of the rooms of our new house, before they were covered with carpet or vinyl flooring. Now when we walk around the house, we are standing on the promises of God, literally!

That's what we are doing at "Hallowed House," the first house we have ever owned. It's in the borough of Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania.

I call our house "Hallowed House" because we moved there on October 30th, a day before All Hallow's Eve. Hallowe'en is also known as Reformation Day and I know it well as my own birthday, too!

Yesterday I showed you the verse inside the front door of Hallowed House. Here's another verse, found on the concrete floor (later covered with padding and carpet, after all, it's a living room!):

Living Room Verse

Both my wife and I agree that we like this verse because it gives life a focus, praising God. It's also a prayer, recognizing that we are works in progress, not perfect people by any means.

Our aim is to live in such a way that we may praise God.

Let the redeemed of the Lord praise God!

A Course in Miracles - famous quotes and sayings

http://www.squidoo.com/acim-quotes

One of the deepest hyped spiritual books of the late 20th century is 'a Course in Miracles' (also known as ACIM). It uses Christian symbols and imagery, but the message is universal and strongly reminiscent of Eastern spirituality (mainly Vedanta). Below you'll find quotes from this famous text organized by topics like God, Love, Reality etc.

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THE WISE MEN AND HERODRead Matthew 2:1–12 & Micah 5:2When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: Matthew 2:4–5 NIV

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THE WISE MEN AND HEROD

Read Matthew 2:1–12 & Micah 5:2

When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: Matthew 2:4–5 NIV